TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of iron overload and genotype on gonadal function in women with thalassaemia major
AU - Skordis, Nicos
AU - Gourni, Maritsa
AU - Kanaris, Constantinos
AU - Toumba, Meropi
AU - Kleanthous, Marina
AU - Karatzia, Ntina
AU - Pavlides, Nicos
AU - Angastiniotis, Michael
PY - 2004/12
Y1 - 2004/12
N2 - Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of chronic iron overload and genotype on gonadal function in women with thalassaemia major. Patients and Methods: The study population consists of 101 women aged 15-48 years who were treated between 1981 and 1999. These women were divided into two groups according to their genotype: [A=no modifying genetic factor and B=presence of modifying factors], and into four groups according to their menstrual history: NM (normal menstruation), OLM (oligomenorrhea), PA (primary amenorrhea), and SA (secondary amenorrhea). Results: Women with NM maintained eumenorrhoea for 14.62 years, whereas those with SA did so for 6.94 years. The serial values of both FSH and LH after stimulation with GnRH were lower in women with SA and PA (p<0.05) compared to women with OLM and NM. The average value of the minimum, mean and maximum ferritin levels over a period of 20 years displayed an increasing trend from women with NM to those with SA and PA. The lower levels of ferritin in women in Group A did not protect them from developing SA. In addition women with SA, who belong to Group A, had a shorter duration of eumenorrhoea compared to the ones with SA who belong to Group B. Conclusions: Although the pathogenesis of gonadal dysfunction in thalassaemia is known to be the consequence of iron overload, this study demonstrates that genotype acts as an independent variable, contributing to the development of SA in thalassaemic women.
AB - Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of chronic iron overload and genotype on gonadal function in women with thalassaemia major. Patients and Methods: The study population consists of 101 women aged 15-48 years who were treated between 1981 and 1999. These women were divided into two groups according to their genotype: [A=no modifying genetic factor and B=presence of modifying factors], and into four groups according to their menstrual history: NM (normal menstruation), OLM (oligomenorrhea), PA (primary amenorrhea), and SA (secondary amenorrhea). Results: Women with NM maintained eumenorrhoea for 14.62 years, whereas those with SA did so for 6.94 years. The serial values of both FSH and LH after stimulation with GnRH were lower in women with SA and PA (p<0.05) compared to women with OLM and NM. The average value of the minimum, mean and maximum ferritin levels over a period of 20 years displayed an increasing trend from women with NM to those with SA and PA. The lower levels of ferritin in women in Group A did not protect them from developing SA. In addition women with SA, who belong to Group A, had a shorter duration of eumenorrhoea compared to the ones with SA who belong to Group B. Conclusions: Although the pathogenesis of gonadal dysfunction in thalassaemia is known to be the consequence of iron overload, this study demonstrates that genotype acts as an independent variable, contributing to the development of SA in thalassaemic women.
KW - Endocrine complications
KW - Heamosiderosis
KW - Hypogonadism
KW - Thalassaemia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=12544251379&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 16462714
AN - SCOPUS:12544251379
SN - 1565-4753
VL - 2
SP - 292
EP - 295
JO - Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews
JF - Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews
IS - SUPPL. 2
ER -